Structural articulation joint for high density mobile carriage

Abstract

A structural coupler for joining two storage racks of a mobile rack system. The coupler includes three separate components that are movable relative to each other to allow for relative movement between adjacent storage racks while providing the structural stability to prevent tipping of the storage racks. The coupler includes a coupling bracket that includes a pair of tabs that extend through open slots formed in a movement bracket and through receiving slots formed in a receiving bracket. A removable connector prevents separation of the coupler in the assembled condition while the size of the coupling tabs relative to the open slots allows the three components to move relative to each other. A series of individual couplers can be used along the height of the uprights that form part of each of the individual storage racks.

We claim: 
     
       1. A mobile rack system movable along a floor of a storage location, comprising:
 at least one multi-rack unit including a first storage rack and a second storage rack, each of the first and second storage racks including a plurality of vertical uprights; 
 a drive motor operable to move the multi-rack unit along the floor; and 
 a plurality of couplers extending between one of the uprights of the first storage rack and one of the uprights of the second storage rack to secure the first and second storage racks to each other while allowing relative movement therebetween, wherein each of the couplers comprises:
 a coupling bracket attached to a first upright of the first storage rack, the coupling bracket including a coupling plate and at least one coupling tab unitarily formed with and perpendicular to the coupling plate; 
 a movement bracket attached to a second upright of the second storage rack and having at least one movement slot sized to receive the coupling tab to allow the coupling tab to move therein; and 
 a receiving bracket attached to the first upright of the first storage rack and having at least one receiving slot sized to receive the coupling tab, wherein the movement bracket is movably positioned between the coupling bracket and the receiving bracket and the coupling tab passes through the movement slot and into the receiving slot. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The mobile rack system of  claim 1  wherein each of the coupling brackets includes a pair of coupling tabs, each of the movement brackets includes a pair of movement slots and each of the receiving brackets includes a pair of receiving slots. 
     
     
       3. The mobile rack system of  claim 2  wherein each of the movement slots has a longitudinal length and a width, wherein the width of each of the movement slots is greater than a width of each of the coupling tabs such that the coupling tabs are movable both along the longitudinal length of the movement slots and along the width of the movement slots. 
     
     
       4. The mobile rack system of  claim 3  wherein the longitudinal length of each of the movement slots is defined by a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second ends contact the coupling tabs to limit the longitudinal movement of the coupling tabs. 
     
     
       5. The mobile rack system of  claim 4  further comprising a removable connector extending through an end of each of the coupling tabs to secure the coupling tabs relative to the receiving bracket. 
     
     
       6. The mobile rack system of  claim 5  wherein the removable connector includes a bolt extending through a hole formed in the coupling tab and a retainer extending through the bolt to hold the bolt within the hole formed in the coupling tab. 
     
     
       7. A mobile rack system movable along a floor of a storage location, comprising:
 at least one multi-rack unit including a first storage rack and a second storage rack, each of the first and second storage racks including a plurality of vertical uprights; 
 a drive motor operable to move the multi-rack unit along the floor; 
 a plurality of couplers extending between the first and second storage racks to secure the uprights of the first and second storage racks to each other while allowing relative movement therebetween, each of the plurality of couplers comprising:
 a coupling bracket attached to a first upright of the first storage rack, the coupling bracket including a coupling plate and a pair of coupling tabs unitarily formed with and perpendicular to the coupling plate; 
 a movement bracket attached to a second upright of the second storage rack and having a pair of movement slots sized to receive the coupling tabs to allow the coupling tabs to move therein; and 
 a receiving bracket attached to the first upright of the first storage rack and having a pair of receiving slots sized to receive the coupling tabs, wherein the movement bracket is positioned between the coupling bracket and the receiving bracket and the pair of coupling tabs pass through the movement slots and into the receiving slots; and 
 a removable connector extending through an end of each of the coupling tabs to secure the coupling tab relative to the receiving bracket and to entrap the movement bracket between the coupling bracket and the receiving bracket. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The mobile rack system of  claim 7  wherein the removable connector includes a bolt extending through a hole formed in the coupling tab and a retainer extending through the bolt to hold the bolt within the hole formed in the coupling tab. 
     
     
       9. The mobile rack system of  claim 7  wherein each of the movement slots has a longitudinal length and a width, wherein the width of each of the movement slots is greater than a width of each of the coupling tabs such that the coupling tabs are movable both along the longitudinal length of the movement slots and along the width of the movement slots.